Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Short answer: No — overall, prices are still higher than a year ago, though some specific items have gotten cheaper.
Overall inflation: Prices across the economy are notably higher than last year. The annual inflation rate in the United States was 3.7% for the 12 months ending September, up from 3.4% in August, according to U.S. Labor Department data released October 14, 2026. This was driven largely by energy costs — the US annual inflation rate accelerated to 3.7% in September 2026, driven by higher energy prices, with gasoline rising 34.2% year-over-year and fuel oil prices increasing 74.2%.
Groceries specifically: Overall grocery prices are also higher than a year ago, but the increase is smaller and more mixed:
Winners and losers within groceries:
Non-grocery/overall outlook: The broader picture is one of continued inflationary pressure, not falling prices. Core goods prices rose at the fastest rate since January 2025, and economists expect inflation to remain elevated through the end of the year, further eating away at Americans' ability to spend.
Bottom line: While a handful of specific items (eggs, butter, dairy, bacon) are now cheaper than a year ago, prices overall — both at the grocery store and across the broader economy — remain higher year-over-year, not lower.
Citations (10)
- Current U.S. Inflation Rates: 2000-2026
Source excerpt: “Home Inflation and Prices Current U.S. Inflation Rates (2000-2026) The annual inflation rate in the United States was 3.7% for the 12 months ending Se...”
- United States Inflation Rate
Source excerpt: “The US annual inflation rate accelerated to 3.7% in September 2026, up from 3.4% in each of the previous two months and above market expectations of 3...”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI increased 0.1 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and was 1.8 percent higher...”
- Which grocery prices are rising the fastest and which are falling? - ABC News
Source excerpt: “Overall, grocery prices dropped 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis last month, leaving them 1.8% higher than a year earlier, U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta...”
- Which grocery prices are rising the fastest and which are falling? - ABC News
Source excerpt: “Egg prices plummeted more than 20% over the year ending in September, indicating continued recovery from a shortage caused by an outbreak of bird flu....”
- Which grocery prices are rising the fastest and which are falling? - ABC News
Source excerpt: “The cooldown in meat prices hit a range of products, including bacon, which costs 3.3% less than it did a year ago. Chicken prices fell in September, ...”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “Beef and veal prices decreased by 1.3 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 but were 3.5 percent higher in September 2026 than in September 2025....”
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “According to the latest BLS data, the cost of tomatoes is up 12.8% year over year, while apples cost 11% more in July 2026 than they did in July 2025....”
- Inflation rose to 3.7% last month in last snapshot of consumer prices before the midterms | CNN Business
Source excerpt: “Core goods prices rose at the fastest rate since January 2025, he said.”
- Inflation rose to 3.7% last month in last snapshot of consumer prices before the midterms | CNN Business
Source excerpt: “Inflation is expected to remain elevated through the end of the year, further eating away at Americans’ ability to spend, said EY-Parthenon’s Daco. ”